Kowalski on WDFN: Lions want to be good ... now they're finding out what that entails

We saw some frustration on the part of the Lions when they weren't effective against Arizona, Tom Kowalski told WDFN-AM Detroit. Those things are going to happen, though, as this team learns how to win. They've wanted to be a factor in the NFL, and now they're finding out what that means.

"They started to unravel a little bit," he said. "It's not like they plummeted into chaos or anything like that. But I think that they really thought this was an important game, and when it was slipping away from them, I think it really got to these guys.

"And that's part of the learning process. When was the last time that Jeff Backus or Dominic Raiola or Shaun Rogers or Kevin Jones or Roy Williams or any of those guys has been in a meaningful game in mid-November? I think they're going to have to learn how to handle the pressure of being in these situations because it's only going to more intensified as we continue through the season, and we'll see how these guys handle it."

The lack of running plays wasn't the main problem either. In fact, it's to be expected because the Lions' offense is completely geared toward the pass.

"To me, this team is supposed to be a pass-first team," MLive's Lions Insider said. "Its talent is in its receiving corps. And the fact they could not get it done throwing against (the Cardinals) is more a slam against the passing offense than the running offense.

"Kitna's got to play better; the offensive line's gotta pick it up a little bit, and they cannot turn the ball over. When you turn the ball over as many times as they did, you're not beating anybody."